Premier League predictions this weekend – Matchweek 24
Our final predictions for Premier League Matchweek 24 – including our Upset of the Week.
This weekend will be one of the busiest of the season in the Premier League, with clubs balancing a full slate of fixtures and any last-minute business ahead of Monday's transfer deadline.
Leaders Arsenal head to Leeds United on Saturday, determined to get their title charge back on track, with Man City and Aston Villa, who are both in action on Sunday, now snapping at their heels after cutting the gap to four points.
Elsewhere, Chelsea and West Ham renew their rivalry, Liverpool host Newcastle at Anfield, and there are some big games for teams in the bottom half of the table as well.
Each week, RadioTimes.com Sport Editor Michael Potts and Sport Writer Ned Holmes present their Premier League predictions, including a selection for Upset of the Week, because football isn't played on paper after all.
How many picks will they get right in Matchweek 24?
Premier League predictions this weekend – Matchweek 24
Saturday 31st January
Leeds v Arsenal (3pm) Not televised
NH: 2-0 Arsenal win. This feels like a big one for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta. It's three league games without a win for the leaders, whose bottle is starting to be seriously questioned, and they now visit a Leeds team that have made themselves so tough to beat of late. Diamonds are, famously, made under pressure, and this could be a game where we see a few of the visitors' key men shine.
MP: 2-2 draw. UPSET OF THE WEEK. Arguably the match of the round could go largely unnoticed due to the fact it won't be shown on TV. Elland Road has not been an easy place for visitors to travel to and for all Arsenal's mettle at the back, this one could escape the Gunners' control and turn into a cracker.
Wolves v Bournemouth (3pm) Not televised
NH: 3-1 Bournemouth win. Flying high from last weekend's late victory over Liverpool, Bournemouth could well be back to their swashbuckling best at Molineux. Antoine Semenyo may have gone but Andoni Iraola still has enough firepower to blow away bottom-club Wolves, whose sale of Jorgen Strand Larsen suggests they're already preparing for the Championship.
MP: 1-1 draw. Credit must go to Rob Edwards for improving Wolves' resilience. He cannot save Wolves from their fate, but he can galvanise the squad for an immediate comeback. Bournemouth have picked up following a terrible run of results, but they'll not find it easy at Molineux.
Brighton v Everton (3pm) Not televised
NH: 1-1 draw. Brighton have been the Premier League's Jekyll and Hyde act this term, while Everton have developed into a really gutsy side under David Moyes. It's the sort of game that might be separated by a mistake or a moment of magic but is likely to end with the points shared.
MP: 1-1 draw. One of the least predictable fixtures in the calendar has arrived. I mean, what are we supposed to do with this one? Everton have lurched from robust to rubbish, Brighton swing from European contenders to bottom-half also-rans. Let's stick in the middle.
Chelsea v West Ham (5:30pm) Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Premier League
NH: 2-1 West Ham win. UPSET OF THE WEEK. It's five wins from six for new Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior and while the results have quietened the doubters in the early weeks of his Stamford Bridge tenure, the Blues have looked more than a little loose since he took charge. Enter West Ham, who have found a new gear under Nuno in recent weeks and could claim a famous derby win.
MP: 1-0 Chelsea win. West Ham's supposed fate-sealing defeat to Nottingham Forest was the best thing that could have happened to them. The pressure appears to have drained from them, and they're playing much better football as a result. Credit goes to them for clawing back into the race, but Chelsea have too much quality. They'll get the job done under Liam Rosenior's excellent guidance.
Liverpool v Newcastle (8pm) TNT Sports 1
NH: 2-1 Liverpool win. Both sides will be keen to carry their midweek momentum into the Premier League after disappointing defeats last weekend. At their best, Newcastle are just the sort of physical outfit that can hurt a Liverpool team that have looked a bit soft and lacking in fluency. The Mags have not hit those heights in the league this season, however, and the Reds' individual quality may be the difference.
MP: 2-2 draw. Liverpool's defence has swung from bad to worse this term, while Newcastle's stars don't show up unless they hear the Champions League music. That could all lead to a fun evening under the lights at Anfield – for neutrals. Alexander Isak won't be too disappointed to miss this one...
Sunday 18th January
Aston Villa v Brentford (2pm) Sky Sports Premier League
NH: 1-0 Aston Villa win. Brentford have lost a little of their momentum and now make the tough trip to Villa Park. Week after week, Aston Villa keep finding moments of magic and the Bees may become the next side to be downed by a spectacular strike.
MP: 2-0 Aston Villa win. Villa are just too good. They boast quality and depth across the park, and have the confidence of a team who just know how to dig out a win in the end. Brentford are not to be underestimated, an early Igor Thiago strike could liven things up, but you can expect Villa to squeeze and squeeze until they make the breakthrough.
Man Utd v Fulham (2pm) Sky Sports Main Event
NH: 2-0 Man Utd win. Michael Carrick's winning start at Man Utd may well continue in what is arguably his most important game yet. The Red Devils thrived in underdog victories against Man City and Arsenal but beating a well-coached and in-form Fulham side when all the pressure is on them would show real progress. Bruno Fernandes is the key.
MP: 1-1 draw. Sure, Michael Carrick has been able to fire up his squad in no-pressure underdog matches, but these are the games he must mastermind to prove himself. Do United have what it takes to control matches against teams they should beat? I'm not convinced they're entirely fixed yet.
Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace (2pm) Sky Sports+
NH: 1-1 draw. The wheels have come off at Crystal Palace, who are going to get sucked into a relegation battle if they're not careful. Sean Dyche will be desperate to see Nottingham Forest exploit the doom and gloom surrounding the South Londoners at present. Prepare for a physical affair, without much in terms of attacking fluency, that ends even.
MP: 1-0 Nottingham Forest win. The Jean Philippe Mateta derby? It'll be interesting to see whether Mateta plays in this one given he appears likely to swap Selhurst Park for the City Ground this weekend. Or at very least, depart the Eagles before the deadline. Sean Dyche will understand a victory here would haul Palace firmly into the relegation mix and blow the race wide open.
Tottenham v Man City (4:30pm) Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Premier League
NH: 4-1 Man City win. It feels like Man City and Erling Haaland are due a big result soon. Enter Spurs. An early goal for the visitors will turn the crowd and Thomas Frank's team could crumble in what may prove to be his last game in charge.
MP: 2-0 Man City win. Spurs lack the killer touch required to topple a team like Manchester City. More than a few Spurs fans may not be too disappointed with a rout if that seals Thomas Frank's fate...
Monday 19th January
Sunderland v Burnley (8pm) Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Premier League
NH: 2-1 Sunderland win. The Black Cats will relish being back at the Stadium of Light with a fully stocked squad. Burnley have picked up some impressive results of late but they lack quality in the final third, which will cost them on Monday and see them head back to the Championship next term.
MP: 1-0 Sunderland win. Can you imagine the outrage when people realise this is the Monday Night Football offering in Matchweek 24? It's not going to be pretty, but it does feel very important. Sunderland have limped through a horrid festive fixture list without key players at the Africa Cup of Nations, and could use a win to keep forward momentum flowing. They remain the only team undefeated at home in the Premier League this term. Expect them to keep that record going.
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Authors
Michael Potts is the Sport Editor for Radio Times, covering all of the biggest sporting events across the globe with previews, features, interviews and more. He has worked for Radio Times since 2019 and previously worked on the sport desk at Express.co.uk after starting his career writing features for What Culture. He achieved a first-class degree in Sports Journalism in 2014.
